22 Things You Didn't Know About Eddie Jackson

Photo: Eddy Chen ©

Scroll For More Photos

1 / 24

All About Eddie

Think you know Eddie? Read on to learn little-known facts about the Food Network Star.

Finalist Eddie Jackson's dish, Caribbean Chili Stuffed Corn Muffin, for the Star Challenge, Savory Baking, as seen on Food Network Star, Season 11.

Photo: Eddy Chen ©

2 / 24

Culinary Strength: Ingenuity

"My greatest strength is to be able to mix and match dinner flavors. I don't just cook one specific type of food — not just Asian or Caribbean. I try to do a little bit of everything to mix and match flavors and see what I come up with," he says.

get the recipe

Photo: Levi Brown

3 / 24

Game-Day Must-Have: Wings

"I have a rum-glaze chicken wing recipe that I do for my tailgate parties," he says. He loves them so much, he even used them on Food Network Star.

get the recipe

Finalist Eddie Jackson during the finale, as seen on Food Network Star, Season 11.

Photo: Eddy Chen ©

4 / 24

A Winning Moment with Dad

After learning of his Star victory, Eddie says, he gave his dad "a huge hug and a kiss."

Photo: Federica Tremolada ©

5 / 24

Football vs. Food? Football Wins

When asked to choose between football and food, he chooses football. "I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my life, from playing professional football to getting hurt to where I couldn't play anymore and turning my life into food because it's something I've always wanted to do," he says.

6 / 24

Go-To Dish: Escabeche Fish

Not only is this Eddie's favorite dish to make, but it's also the first one he feels he perfected. It "is a Jamaican dish in which you lightly fry fish, but it's topped with pickled veggies," Eddie explains. "So it's kind of on the borderline of being healthy but not healthy — 'cause cheat day."

Mentor Bobby Flay congratulates Finalist Eddie Jackson for winning Food Network Star during the finale, as seen on Food Network Star, Season 11.

Photo: Eddy Chen ©

7 / 24

Culinary Hero: Bobby Flay

"He's definitely my culinary hero because we have a lot in common. He's a grill guy, and we both like strong flavors. I gravitated to him at a young age," Eddie says.

8 / 24

Loving Food Through Family

Eddie credits two people for instilling in him a love of food. "My grandmother at first. It started with a biscuit (watching her make them)," he says. "Later on, my dad influenced me in my teen years."

9 / 24

His Last Meal Would Be Barbecue

"If I was on my deathbed, I would ask for a whole rack of ribs," he says. "My favorite side would have to be my grandmother's potato salad."

close up of dumbbell and apple with measuring tape

Photo: lev dolgachov ©

10 / 24

Where There's Food, There's Fitness

"Fitness is a big part of my life. I'm a big fan of moderation and watching what you eat on a daily basis," he says of how he balances food and fitness. "It's just part of who I am."

Watch

Outdoor Weekend BBQ Grill Party Or Picnic Concept

Photo: Alexey&Svetlana Novikov ©

11 / 24

Favorite Cooking Memory: Childhood 'Cue

"By far, [it was] the first time my dad taught me the ins and outs of barbecue on the patio of our apartment on a small Weber grill back in 1991," he says.

12 / 24

Ultimate Cheat Day Meal: Get Grilling

"My ultimate cheat day meal would have to be something off the grill because I am a grill fanatic. That's why I love Bobby Flay so much," he says.

get the recipe

13 / 24

Favorite Late-Night Snack: Fries

"I am a fanatic for french fries. I hate to admit it," he says. "Being a personal trainer, I teach my people not to eat french fries. But that's my weakness."

Photo: Emshanova Tatiana ©

14 / 24

Weirdest Thing in His Fridge: Pickled Eggs

If you take a peek inside his fridge, you'll probably find something pickled. "I love pickling things," he says. "You might find pickled eggs or something like that."